Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo condemned an incident during which a man allegedly ‘hammer’smashed the window of the Constitutional Court in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
In response to the act, the 36-year-old suspect was immediately arrested.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda, confirmed a warning shot was fired while the suspect was ordered to stop smashing windows.
The man is expected to appear in court shortly, facing charges for malicious damage to property.
According to Netshiunda, the cause of the incident is still being investigated.
After Parliament was set ablaze in Cape Town on Sunday, Zondo urged law enforcement agencies to take all possible measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring in the future.
“The incident comes just after other state facilities were subjected to unusual attacks, including threats to harm some Superior Courts.
“These attacks and threats aim to destroy this critical infrastructure the public relies on to preserve their constitutional rights,” said Zondo.
The judiciary, said Zondo, appealed to all state organs and functions responsible for state buildings and security services to ensure a threat-based assessment of security surrounding court facilities and ensure vital assets are well-protected.
The acting chief justice said it is vital to note that this incident has not hampered the ability of the justices and court staff to carry out their duties.
In spite of this, Zondo added, the security of the judiciary, its staff, and citizens is at risk and must be addressed as soon as possible.
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